Safety envelope



Sept. 9, 1924.

J. KovAcs ET AL S AFETY ENVELOPE Filed Jan. '7., 1922 3 sheets-Sheer. 2

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S. Meszaros .NVENTOR ATTORN EY WITN ESSS Sept. 9, 1924. 1508284 v J. KOVACS ET AL SAFETY ENVELOPE Filed Jan. '7, 1922 3 sheets-Sheet 5 is: Me-SZVOS mvEu-roR WITN ESSS ATTORNEY Patentecl Sept. 9, 1924,

SAFETY ENVELOPE.

Application filed January 7, 1922. Serial No. 527,690.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that we, J osEPH KovAos and SANDOR MEszARos, citizens of the United States, residing at Denbo', in the county of lVashington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an envelope, the principal object of the invention being to provide means for preventing the envelope from being opened and sealed again without destroying the parts thereof so that a person receiving the mail or the postal authorities can readily tell that the same has been tampered with.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view of the blank from which the envelope is made.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the closed envelope.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views.

Figures 5 and 6 are views of a modification.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views of another modification.

As shown in these views the side flaps 1 are of substantially rectangular form and of such dimensions that they will well overlap and the bottom flap 2 is of such dimensions as to almost cover entirely the rear of the envelope. Thus the rear of the envelope has its major part composed of three thicknesses so that it is comparatively stiff. A slot 3 is cut in this rear adjacent the center thereof and the closing fiap 4 is provided with a tongue 5 which is of T-shape. The top and arms of this Tv are composed of two thicknesses of material, as shown. The arms are adapted to be folded upon the top and passed through the slot 3, when the envelope vis to be closed. After passing through the slot the arms are opened so as to lock the tongue in the slot. This is done by pressing upon the edges of the envelope to 1 In the modification shown in Figures i' and threads 6 are connected with the ends of the arms of the `T-shaped tongue for facilitating the unfolding of the same after` they have been passed through the slot. These threads can also be used for opening the envelope as they can be drawn along the fold at the sides so as to sever one or both of the flaps 1 from the front of the envelope. In this case the ends of thethreads would project from the corners of the envelope or they could pass through holes made in the Sides. From the above it will be seen that it will be impossible to open the envelope without leaving signs that the same has been tampered with as the tongue will have to be severed before the top flap can be lifted.

In the modification shown in F igures 7, 8 and 9, large openings 3' are formed in the bottom fiap and one of the end flaps, these openings exposing the slot 3 in the second end flap when the envelope is closed. In this modification the strings or cords 6' pass through holes 7 formed in the ends of the envelope. After the contents of the envelope are placed therein the tongue 5' has its arms folded: as shown in Figure 7, and] passed through the openings 3' and the slot 8. The strings 6' are then pulled upon to unfold the arms, as shown in Figure 8, and then said strings are pulled from the arms of the tongue and through the o-penings 71 as shown in Figure 9B Thus the envelope will be held in closed position without the use of adhesive material and it cannot be opened without tearing parts of the envelope and without leaving signs that it has been tampered with for even if it was possible to open the envelope and close it again the torn ends of the tongue would show that it had been tampered with.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

VVe desire it to be understood that we may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall Within thesoope of the appended elaimse l. In an envelope of the class described havinga T shaped tongue on its elosing flap and a. slot in its rear side for receivng the tongue, the arms of the T being folded to permit them to pass through the slot, means for unfolding the arms after they pass through the slot, such means including` threads c-onneoted With the en'ds of the arms and acting as Opening means for the envelo e.

In an envelop'e of the class described having a lT-shap'ed btongue on its clo'sing fiapand a slot in its rear side for receivng the tongue, the arms of the T being folded to permit them to pass through the slot means for .unfolding the arms after they lpass through the slot, such means including threads eonnected With the ends of the arms and passing through the ends of the envelope and adaspted to be pulled from the tongues after the same has been closed.

In testimony w'v'hereo'f We afiix our signatures.

.JosEPH Kovos.

sANDoR MEszARos. 

